Self-inquiry with Hillary Rodrigues 

Sunday, September 15, 2024 

At KECC Metchosin, BC 

Ten people in total were present for this Sunday afternoon meeting sponsored by the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada and held at the Swanwick Road location in Metchosin, BC. It was a warm, sunny day, good for sitting outdoors on the front lawn with the gorgeous ocean and mountain views. Our facilitator, Hillary Rodrigues, opened the meeting with a period of silence followed by a verbal description of the main features of “dialogue” meetings. Dialogue, Hillary offered, involves a sensitive observing of what is arising in others as the group interacts with each other and also a sensitive observing of what is arising within ourselves. What is observed can be shared with the group and explored in greater detail. 

One participant mentioned his noticing of a tendency in himself to look for some sense of stability or security as communication moved on. Another questioned whether there is, in fact, any stability or security to be found. Can we remain in a place of stability? This led into an examination of thinking and the creation of a “self” and, in turn, to an inquiry into the possibility of knowing emptiness. We circled around a few questions and came to what seemed like a central issue: the death of the self. Can an “I” or a self-image be aware of its own death? There were a number of issues that group members brought forward, including what was often said by Krishnamurti, that when the self is present love is not – and vice versa. It seems that a kind of psychological death is necessary in order to realise the deeper states of consciousness. 

One group member said that he would like to understand more deeply the meaning of another of K’s sayings: “the observer is the observed”. Participants offered various points of view regarding the issue and it seemed that there was some deepening of understanding concerning it. The discussion went on for some time before time ran out and we dispersed for some snacks and further friendly talk. Most of us seemed to be anticipating our next meeting with some enthusiasm. 

DB  

Self-inquiry,  

September 8, 2024 

With Hillary Rodrigues 

At KECC Metchosin 

Eleven people in total were in attendance for this afternoon meeting at 538 Swanwick Road in Metchosin, BC. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were able to sit out on the front lawn with the lovely views and the sounds of nature. Hillary Rodrigues, our facilitator and support person, began the session with a short period of silence. He commented that it can be challenging to be silent and that the opportunity was present to observe ourselves while intending to be deeply quiet. After the five minutes or so of silence Hillary opened the meeting to any questions that had come up in the reading of The Book of Life: Meditations with Krishnamurti or any other readings or questions. He mentioned that dialogue is a learning together about any issue that has arisen or any reaction that has taken place in our consciousness. This inspired one participant to relate an event that happens to her occasionally where she is suddenly lit up by some idea that seems to come out of nowhere. She was curious to explore what happens, especially as the happening sometimes develops into a “passion” or something of beauty or love. 

Another participant asked how we become passionate about anything? What happens if a loaded gun is pointed at our head? What do we feel? “What is” may not be pleasant. Krishnamurti suggests that we remain present with whatever is. Does that feel dangerous? Can it be peaceful? Does the experience come to an end? Could we all just be with what is? Would that awaken an intelligence which could resolve the world’s problems? Is there compassion in K’s response? 

One participant suggested that “seeing” or “insight” is what is needed most deeply in order for any transformation to take place. Does that happen in our inquiry? The question was left as an open one that could be held in “choiceless awareness” 

DB 

Self-inquiry

Sunday, September 1, 2024

With David Bruneau

At KECC Metchosin

Five participants in total were present for this Sunday afternoon meeting at the Swanwick Road location of the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada in Metchosin, BC. David was invited to facilitate the meeting in the absence of Hilary Rodrigues, who will be facilitating for most of the month of September. It was a lovely, sunny day which enabled us to sit on the lawn in front of the Main House. The sun was quite hot, which encouraged us to move to a more shady location on the grass and made things more comfortable for the second half of the gathering.

David started the meeting with a guided meditation inviting participants to be fully present and attentive to their thoughts and feelings. He then read the September 1 passage from The Book of Life: Daily Meditations with Krishnamurti, the book we have been using as a reference to the teachings of Krishnamurti. Later in the session David asked if someone would like to read the September 2 entry. The main topics covered by K in those two selections were the difference between insight or “seeing” and knowledge and opinion, the false and the true, and the need for a silent mind in order to perceive the real. The meditation and the readings stimulated group discussion and questioning about how we can know what is true and what is not. How can we see, what does it mean, what is full attention, and the silence that K speaks of were all topics of exploration.

One participant spoke of her experience with Buddhist approaches to self-inquiry and the similarity of Krishnamurti’s approach in some important ways. She felt there was very little contradiction between the Buddhist understanding she had studied and practised and what she had so far heard of K’s approach to self-inquiry and “meditation.” 

Group members agreed that many characteristics seemed to be in accord. 

Towards the end of the meeting one group member shared some personal issues he had about shame and his challenges with it over the years. This introduced a discussion of “being with” feelings that seemed significant. When the meeting time was over, we moved to the Gatehouse where fruit and snacks were served and further friendly conversation took place. Participants gradually drifted away. It was considered that the small size of the group added to the intimacy and depth of sharing that took place and was thereby a beneficial aspect of the meeting.

DB

Self-inquiry with Christina Merkley 

Sunday, August 18, 2024 

At KECC Metchosin, BC 

Christina Merkley volunteered to facilitate a meeting for the Krishnamurti Educational Centre of Canada. She has had experience with a certain kind of inquiry which Ralph considered might be interesting for us. It is a kind of spontaneous process which unfolds as it develops along the lines of what group members share as they notice whatever they perceive about the way the group energy or the energy of individuals in the group is expressing itself. Christna drew pictures on large sheets of white paper representing the group process which could then be used to further explore what was happening for group members. 

Nine people in total were present for the afternoon meeting on the front lawn in front of the Main House. The weather was very appropriate for sitting outdoors as there was almost no wind at all and sunshine was appearing more and more as the afternoon progressed. Christina began the session with a silent meditation of about ten minutes. She then asked for people’s feedback about what was happening for them. One group member expressed an interest in exploring the possibilities of what Krishnamurti had called “thinking together”. 

One participant shared that she was feeling “resistance”. Christina asked if that resistance could be welcomed here and what happened when it was welcomed. People then reported their experiences of thoughts arising, dogs barking, and the earlier presence of a bear on the property. A sense of “togetherness” was reported wherein it seemed that a sense of group wholeness was present. This changed into a sense that togetherness was lacking and what was being felt was a sense of separateness and attachment to the feeling of individuality. This again shifted to a feeling of just being in the present moment with a sense of ease. One person then expressed that for him all experiences were “coming back to “nothingness” or “emptiness”. We then went back over what had happened and considered engaging once again with another inquiry. There was a feeling that time was running out and it might be better to engage freshly on another occasion. Participants expressed that the whole inquiry had been very interesting (or not).

DB